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Coveting
Throughout “The Necklace,” Mathilde covets everything that other people have and she does not. Whereas Monsieur Loisel happily looks forward to having hot soup for dinner, Mathilde thinks only of the grandness of other homes and lavish table settings that she does not own. When Monsieur Loisel obtains an invitation for a party, she covets a new dress so that she can look as beautiful as the other wives as well as jewelry so that she does not look poor in comparison to them. She is so covetous of Madame Forestier’s wealth that she cannot bear to visit her, but she overcomes her angst when she needs to borrow jewelry for the party; there, her coveting is briefly sated because she gets to take one of the ornaments home with her. After the party, she covets the fur coats the other women are wearing, which highlight the shabbiness of her own wraps. This endless coveting ultimately leads to Mathilde’s downfall and, along the way, yields only fleeting happiness. It is so persistent, however, that it takes on a life of its own—Mathilde’s coveting is as much a part of her life as breathing.
The rejection of good advice
Throughout the story, a key motif is the rejection of well-meaning advice, leading to one's own detriment. Monsieur Loisel consistently tries to alleviate Mathilde's concerns, but she always dismisses his efforts. For example, when Loisel brings home an invitation to a ball at the Ministry, Mathilde lashes out, mortified that she has nothing to wear. Loisel suggests she wear the dress she usually wears to the theater, remarking, "It looks very well to me." However, Mathilde dissolves into tears, rejecting his solution. Later, when Mathilde laments her lack of jewelry to wear to the ball with her new dress, Loisel suggests flowers, noting that "it's very stylish at this time of year." However, Mathilde remains unconvinced. Finally, as the ball ends, Loisel offers a modest wrap to drape around her shoulders, but Mathilde rejects it, ashamed of being perceived as poor by the other women at the ball who all don fur coats. Mathilde's behavior is self-destructive; she chooses to wallow in her own perceived misery rather than recognize that she has options that could still allow her to live happily. Though all of her husband's suggestions are thoughtful, Mathilde is too blinded by vanity and insecurity to accept his well-meaning advice and her behavior ultimately destroys her chances of happiness.
